6 Affordable PCs That Are Great For VR Fitness

VR headsets are awesome pieces of technology and great to have, but they won’t do much for your current fitness regimen unless you have a capable PC. Here are six options to get you going that have plenty of power but won’t empty your wallet.

MSI Aegis

MSI has been putting out ultra-powerful gaming machines for a number of years. The Aegis with an Intel i7 processor and Nvidia GTX 1070 GPU is a more than capable VR unit housed in a futuristic case with a small footprint. An ample power supply and Silent Storm Cooling System helps keep this unit running optimally. A convent handle on top allows for easy transport. Overall this is an exceptional machine with an easy-to-swallow price tag. $1499.00

Alienware Aurora

Alienware has been around for over 20 years and is now generally recognized as the gaming arm of the PC manufacturer Dell. The Alienware lineup is filled with some reliable and powerful gaming machines. With the Aurora and its GTX 1060, you get a PC that can handle the demands of pretty much any VR experience on the market today. On the one hand, this PC is slightly bulky when compared with other PCs in its class, but on the other, this means there is plenty of space for upgradable hardware components and even a second GPU. $1149.99

Asus ROG GR8 II

The Asus ROG might come in a small package when compared to some of the other VR ready PCs out there, but it packs a formidable punch. The ROG contains a GTX 1060 in its exotic tapered case but the custom Asus GPU only has 3GB of GDDR5 (not as good as other models). The lighting options and overall design does make this machine look more alien than its Alienware competitor, but when you have a VR headset on who cares what the PC looks like. There’s not much room to upgrade the ROG nor does it come with an internal power supply. However, weighing in at a little over 8 pounds, the ROG can easily be transported around the house or from LAN party to LAN party. $1199.99

HP Omen

Hewlett Packard (HP) is well known for its printing solutions and home and office computing lineup. Recently, the company re-introduced its Omen line of high-performance gaming computers. The Omen desktop is sleeker than its predecessor and comes with a number of optional upgrades. You can choose between Nvidia and AMD GPUs. For around $1100.00 you can take the Omen home with a 7th Gen i5 processor and Nvidia GTX 1060 which gives you plenty of graphics rendering power for the current lineup of VR content. With this unit, you have the freedom to upgrade the GPU and RAM and still keep the price under $1500.00

Alienware 13

Alienware also brings several laptop models into the mix, but if you want to stay in the sub-$1500.00 range, their 13-inch option is the way to go. They managed to fit a GTX 1060 with 6GB of GDDR5 and an Intel i7 processor into this little guy. With a $1299.99 price tag, this model doesn’t come with the OLED display that comes standard in the $2000.00 version. If you are looking for a tiny (5.5 lbs) VR alternative to the larger desktops, this is a great option.

Acer Predator Helios 300

The Predator Helios comes equipped with a GTX 1060 as well. However, it has fared better than many other laptops in its class when it comes to graphics performance. It has also fared well on the Steam VR graphics tests. The Predator has an entry level price tag of around $1100.00, but it might be worth upgrading to the $1399.00 version to get a better screen, keyboard, and SSID options.

It doesn’t matter whether you are a VR fitness noob or veteran because all of these PCs offer up a great performance at a price point that won’t break the bank. If you are interested in learning about other VR ready PC’s, accessories, or games, make sure to check out our past post: Get Into VR Fitness Now With This Starter Guide

Chuck Westerberg is VR/AR evangelist and Idaho native. He attended graduate and undergraduate school at Boise State University and has degrees in history and Latin. Chuck has an affinity for immersive technologies and spends a great deal of his time bringing VR and AR to the masses through community events, STEM education programs, and enterprise use case discussions. When he’s not in an HMD you can find him volunteering for various local non-profits, coaching his two wonderful kid’s baseball teams, and backpacking in Idaho’s great outdoors.